Therapy mat table and table carrier and methods of use

ABSTRACT

A therapy mat table has an upper surface and removable mat. A portion of the mat and a separate plate is rotatably mounted within the flat top so as to be capable of being selectively raised and lowered to form a seat back for a patient reclining or sitting on the pad on an elongated side edge of the table. The table may also include transfer bars which help to move a patient on and off the table or when moving to a standing position or while simply standing. The table may further include a stowable foot stop, which prevents backward movement of the patient&#39;s feet when the patient is standing between the transfer bars. The table may also include a knee blocker, which helps to limit or prevent buckling of the patient&#39;s knees when the patient is standing between the transfer bars.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/803,198, filed on Jun. 21, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,161,587. Theentire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference for allintents and purposes.

BACKGROUND

This invention pertains to therapy tables in general, and, inparticular, to an improved therapy mat table for use in physical therapyhaving an adjustable portion that may be selectively raised or loweredto form a raised area that may be used as a seat back to morecomfortably support patients.

It has long been appreciated that when performing physical therapy on orproviding physical therapy to an individual; the individual must lie onor be supported by a table having a mat thereon that comfortablysupports the individual during adjustment or articulation of selectedportions of the individual's body. Some of the known therapy tablesinclude separate table portions or sections that are movableindependently from each other to enable a human body to be placed invarious positions on the table top. For example, the table top mayinclude articulated torso and leg portions for use in adjusting aperson's spinal column.

While the known tables encompass a wide variety of movable sections orportions, there is a dearth in the prior art of tables having movableportions that may be selectively raised to better support a patient'sback when seated on the table during some types of physical therapy.Typically, the therapist herself must support the patient's weight,which can be tiring to the therapist and can even lead to injuries andin particular back injuries.

Another problem with conventional therapy tables is that the therapistmust also assist the patient onto the table often with little assistancefrom the patient.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the device of the present application, a therapy mattable is provided with a portion that may be automatically raised orlowered, as needed, to enable a patient to lie or sit on the table witha support for the patient's back.

In one exemplary embodiment, the therapy mat table of the presentapplication comprises a table having a flat top supported by a pluralityof upstanding legs. The table has an upper surface with a removablecover, mat or pad to allow a patient to lie comfortably on the tabletop. A portion of the table top is rotatably mounted within the flat topso as to be capable of being selectively raised and lowered to form araised portion or seat back for a patient reclining or sitting on thepad. The movable portion may be remotely actuated by a motor mountedunder the table top, or may be manually actuated by a crank, rack andpinion type drive, or the like.

If a motor is used, it is preferably connected to an operating means toselectively operate an operating mechanism, such as a directly connectedmechanical or hydraulic arrangement connected between the bottom of thetable top and the movable portion thereof.

In another exemplary embodiment of the device of the presentapplication, the table includes a body having a substantially flat topwith a pair of relatively narrow ends and elongated side edges supportedby a plurality of upstanding legs. A plurality of cross beams may beconnected between the elongated side edges. The table has an uppersurface supported on the relatively narrow ends, elongated side edgesand cross beams, with a removable cover, mat or pad covering the uppersurface to allow a patient to lie comfortably on the table top. Aportion of the upper surface is rotatably mounted within a pair of thecross beams so as to be capable of being selectively raised and loweredto form a seat back for a patient reclining or sitting on the pad andfacing one of the elongated side edges of the table. The movable portionmay be remotely actuate by a motor mounted under the table top, or maybe manually actuated by a crank or the like.

A reversible electric or hydraulic motor is preferably mounted to one ormore of the plurality of cross beams, under the lower surface of theflat top, and operatively connected to a hydraulic cylinder to move acarriage or the like along tracks, the carriage is connected to amovable portion or seat back, to selectively rotate the movable portionbetween raised and lowered positions. The carriage is movably mounted onwheels held in the tracks.

In another aspect of the present invention, the therapy table may alsoinclude a pair of transfer bars, which may be used to assist moving thepatient on and off the table. The transfer bars may be stowed beneaththe table when not in use. The transfer bars may be positioned tosupport the patient when moving to and from a seated position using themovable seat back. The table may also include a foot stop, whichprevents the patient's feet from excessive inward movement when movingto a standing position. The foot stop may be aligned with a lateral edgeof the table to assist the patient when moving to a standing positionfrom the seated position.

In still another aspect of the present invention, the therapy table mayalso have a knee block. The knee block helps to prevent, or at leastlimit, buckling of the patient's knees as the patient moves toward thestanding position. The knee block may be supported by the transfer barsand stowed beneath the table when not in use. The knee block has anadjustable position to accommodate different sized patients. The kneeblock and transfer bars, together with a lateral edge of the table, forman enclosure which helps to stabilize the patient and prevent thepatient from falling in any direction.

In still another aspect of the present invention, a pair of removableparallel bars may be provided. A movable patient support may also beprovided which is slidably coupled to the parallel bars.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a table carrier isprovided. The table carrier traps a lateral edge of the table in arecess and engages a base of the table. Once the lateral edge has beentrapped and the base engaged, the table is raised to a substantiallyperpendicular position.

A better understanding of the above and many other features andadvantages of the device of the present application may be obtained froma consideration of the detailed description thereof below, particularlyif such consideration is made in conjunction with the figures of theappended drawings.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed tobe novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Thepresent invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation,together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top-side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of atherapy mat table in accordance with the present invention, with themovable portion or seat back shown in the raised position in the topwith a patient shown in broken line, seated on a side edge of the tableand held thereon by a seat belt in a supported position;

FIG. 2 is a further perspective view of the therapy mat table, with thetable top and mat removed and a lower plate portion of the seat backshown in the raised position; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the hydraulicallyoperated carriage for raising and lowering the movable plate or portionof the seat back of the therapy mat table.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another therapy mat table which hasstowable transfer bars, foot stop and knee block all shown in the stowedposition.

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the therapy mat table of FIG. 4with one of the transfer bars and the foot stop in the workingpositions.

FIG. 6 shows both transfer bars in the working position.

FIG. 7 shows the transfer bars moved outwardly from the table relativeto the position of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows the knee block positioned between the transfer bars.

FIG. 9 shows the knee block.

FIG. 10 shows the knee block attached to the transfer bars.

FIG. 11 shows another therapy table with a movable seat.

FIG. 12 shows the therapy table of FIG. 11 with the movable seatinclined to assist the patient to the standing position.

FIG. 13 shows one of the parallel bars extending from the table.

FIG. 14 shows both parallel bars extending from the table.

FIG. 15 shows the knee block positioned between the parallel bars.

FIG. 16 shows a table carrier.

FIG. 17 shows the table carrier engaging a table.

FIG. 18 shows the table carrier supported on rubber feet as the table israised.

FIG. 19 shows the wheels engaging the ground with the table ready fortransport.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modescontemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Variousmodifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled inthe art, since the generic principles of the present invention have beendefined herein specifically to provide for a novel and improved therapymat table having a selectively movable internal portion to form a backrest.

An exemplary embodiment of a therapy mat table 10 is illustrated in theperspective and enlarged partial views of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of thedrawings, and comprises a body 12 having a substantially flat top 14covered by a mat or pad 16. The substantially flat top 14 and mat 16 aresupported by a plurality of upstanding legs 18. The flat top 14 includesan upper surface on which the mat or pad 16 rests or is supported and alower surface. A movable portion or seat back 23 is disposed in the mat16. The seat back 23 may be formed completely in the interior of the mat16 or may extend to one side edge, as shown, to allow the seat back tobe made larger and to include an adjustable head rest 26 thereon. Theseat back 23 is preferably comprised of cut-out portion or section 20 ofthe mat 14 held on or mounted over a plate 15.

The movable plate 15 is best shown in FIG. 2. This plate 15, which maybe a separate item or a cutout portion of the flat top 14, has thesection 20 of the mat or pad 16 secured to an upper surface thereof inany desired or known manner, such as by an adhesive or releasablesecuring means. The movable seat back 23 is raised or lowered bymovement of the plate 15. The movable seat back 23 forms a back rest fora patient sitting or reclining on the top surface of the therapy mattable 10, as shown in broken line in FIG. 1. The headrest 26 ispreferably secured to the rear of the plate 15 and adjustable so as tobe behind the plate 15, adjacent a rear surface 17, when the seat back23 is lowered, and above the seat back, to support the head of apatient, when the seat back is raised, as shown in FIG. 1. The rearsurface 17 of the plate 15 preferably covers an internal opening 25formed in the table top 14.

The body 12 includes relatively narrow opposed ends 24, 26 24a, 24b andsubstantially parallel, elongated side edges 28, 30 supported by theupstanding legs 18. The relatively narrow opposed ends 24, 26 24a, 24band substantially parallel, elongated side edges 28, 30 include uppersurfaces for supporting the edges of the mat 16. The legs 18 may havefurther supports or braces connected thereto. At least two cross beams32, 34 are disposed or secured between the elongated side edges 28, 30,with the internal opening 25 formed there between, and to furtherstrengthen the table, aid in supporting the mat 16 and to providesupport to the movable plate or portion 15 and its operating mechanism,as described more fully below. If desired, the substantially flat top 14may have a further flat surface added thereto, to add support for themat 16.

In the exemplary preferred embodiment of the therapy mat table 10illustrated, a seat back operator 38, such as a reversible electric orhydraulic motor, or combination electrical hydraulic motor is supportedin or adjacent to the opening 25, preferably between and by the crossbeams 32, 34, under the lower surface 17 of plate 15, when in thelowered position. The operator 38 is connected to a power source, suchas an electrical outlet, by a cord 36 system and is preferably actuatedby a remote control 40 to move the plate 15 and, therefore, the seatback 23, between raised and lowered positions, including any desiredintermediate position. The plate 15 is rotatably held at one end, as bymeans of a hinge or the like 39 held on an arm or strut 42, disposed orextending between the cross beams 32, 34, and forming one end of theopening 25. A further or second arm or strut 44 may also be disposed orextend between the cross beams 32, 34, adjacent the first arm or strut42. The operator 38 has a shaft 46 operatively connected thereto by afirst end (not shown) held in the operator. A second end 48 of the shaft46 is held to a plate 50 secured in a carriage or housing 52, as bymeans of pin or the like 53, passing through an opening 54. The carriageor housing 52 has a plurality of rollers or wheels 55, 56, 57, 58rotatably mounted at outer corners of the housing.

The carriage or housing 52 is preferably mounted and held in a frame 60secured to the cross beams 34, 36, under the same, away from the lowersurface 17 of the plate 15. The frame 60 includes tracks 62, 64 63 inwhich the plurality of rollers or wheels 55, 56, 57, 58 are held ormounted whereby the carriage or housing 52 may be selectively movedalong or translated along the tracks 62, 64 63 by rolling of the wheels55, 56, 57, 58, upon actuation of the shaft 48 46 to the position shownin FIG. 1, to raise the plate 15 and the seat back 23. The seat back islowered and raised by the action of a pair of levers 68, 70 rotatablysecured at first ends 72, 74 to rear corners of the carriage 52 and atsecond or outer ends 76, 78 to brackets or plates 80, 82 secured to therear surface 17 of plate 15, as by means of securing elements 84 held inthe plates 80, 82, as shown in FIG. 1.

Upon actuation of the shaft 46 in the direction of arrow 64, the plate15 and the seat back 23 will be lowered or moved in the direction ofarrow 66. The carriage or housing 52 also includes further supports orbraces 85 and may have upwardly extending side edges 86, 87, 88, 89 tostrengthen the same and to hold the wheels 55, 56, 57, 58 thereon.

In the exemplary preferred embodiment shown, means may be provided forselectably actuating the operator 38 in case the power is off, for anyreason. For example, the operator 38 could be manually operated by acrank or a pump in a known manner.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, the plate 15 is preferablyoperated by the operator 38 to enable the seat back 23 to be raised andlowered in the therapy mat table 10. In the raised position the seatback 23 faces the elongated side edge 28 of the body 12, whereby apatient sitting on the table top, along the side edge 28, a shown inFIG. 1, will have their back supported in the preferred upright positionneeded when performing some types of physical therapy. The patient mayhave a seat belt 90, held in the table by any desired means, as by beingheld to the rear surface 17 of the plate 15 by securing elements,snapped around their waist, to aid in keeping them in the seatedposition during therapy.

As discussed above, the operator 38 may be an electrically operatedmotor or may comprise a combination hydraulic-electric motor, or may bea hydraulically actuated motor actuated by a hydraulic system to movethe plate 15 and seat back 23 between raised and lowered positions.

Referring to FIGS. 4-8, another therapy mat table 110 is shown. Thetherapy mat table 110 has a movable seat back 123 and a pair of transferbars 121. The seat back 123 includes a deployable headrest 127 tosupport the patient's head. A belt (not shown) is provided to secure thepatient in the seated position as described above. The transfer bars 121may be used to aid the patient on and off the table 110 and may be usedby the patient or the therapist. The transfer bars 121 are movable fromthe stowed position of FIG. 4 to the working position of FIG. 5. Thetransfer bars 121 initially rotate to an orientation parallel to thetable 110 and then slide beneath the table 110 to the stowed position ofFIG. 5. The transfer bars 121 are positioned to the left and right of aseat 129 formed in a mat 111 when the seat back 123 is deployed so thatthe bars 121 may be used to help the patient move to and from the seatedposition. The position of the transfer bars 121 may be adjusted to movethe transfer bars 121 closer or further from the table 110 toaccommodate differing size patients. FIG. 7 shows the transfer bars 121moved further from the table 110 compared to the position of FIG. 6.

The therapy mat table 110 also includes a foot stop 125 which is movablefrom the stowed position of FIG. 4 to the working position of FIG. 5.The foot stop 125 may be useful in preventing excessive inward movementof the patient's feet when the patient moves on or off the table 110 andin particular from the seated position. The foot stop 125 is alignedwith a lateral edge 131 of the table 110 adjacent to the transfer bars121 in the working position. The foot stop 125 moves away from thelateral edge in the stowed position and is stowed beneath the table 110.

The table 110 may also be raised and lowered by activation of foot pedal133. Activation of the seat back 123 may also be automated and activatedwith foot pedal 135. The mechanism by which the seat back 123 is raisedand lowered may be similar to the mechanism described above or may beany other suitable mechanism without departing from the scope of theinvention.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-10, the table 110 may also include a knee block140 which helps to reduce the likelihood of the patient's knees bucklingand limit's the amount that the knees can move even if the patient'sknees should buckle. The knee block 140 is supported by the transferbars 121 and may be stowed under the table when not in use. The kneeblock 140 is particularly advantageous when used with the table 110 inthe manner described below to move a patient to a standing position. Theknee block 140 is secured to the transfer bars 121 with a strap 141. Theposition of the knee block 140 may be adjusted by changing the positionof the transfer bars 121. In this manner, the space enclosed by thetransfer bars 121 and the knee block 140 may be adjusted to accommodatethe particular patient. Typically, the knee block 140 is adjusted sothat the patient will fit snugly in an enclosure 143 formed by the kneeblock 140, transfer bars 121, the edge of the table 131 and the footstop 125.

The patient is moved from the table 110 to a standing position in thefollowing manner. First, the patient is moved to the edge of the table110 and positioned in a seated position using the seat back 123 asdescribed herein. The transfer bars 121 and foot stop 125 are moved tothe working positions and the knee block 140 is then positioned betweenthe transfer bars 121. The position of the knee block 140 may beadjusted to adjust the distance between the knee block 140 and thelateral edge 131 of the table by adjusting the position of the transferbars 121. Typically, the knee block 140 is adjusted to a position toform an enclosure 143 which is just large enough to accommodate thepatient.

The table 110 is then slowly raised so that the patient begins to moveto the standing position. The knee block 140 prevents the patient'sknees from buckling and the foot stop 125 prevents the patient's feetfrom excessive backward displacement as the patient moves to thestanding position. Once the patient is standing, the therapist may workon the patient or the patient may simply maintain a standing position asthe therapy itself. An advantage of the knee block 140 is that thetherapist must typically support the patient herself and, if thepatient's knees should buckle, the therapist must stabilize the patientby herself, which presents obvious problems for the therapist andpatient. Another advantage of the transfer bars 121 and the knee block140 is that the patient is essentially contained within the enclosure143 formed by the side of the table 131, transfer bars 121 and kneeblock 140.

Referring to FIGS. 11-15, another table 150 is shown which includes allof the features of table 110 and all such features and methods of useare expressly incorporated here including the seat back 123, thetransfer bars 121 and the knee block 140 even if those items notexplicitly shown here. The table 150 includes a table top 151 and a mat153 which supports a patient in a lying position. The table top 151 maybe lowered and raised as discussed above and includes a movable seatback 123 which may also be used as discussed above.

The table 150 also includes parallel bars 152 which are stowed in FIGS.11-12 and in a working position in FIGS. 14 and 154. The parallel bars152 slide into place with the parallel bars 152 each sliding within achannel 153 155 coupled to the table 150. The parallel bars 152 extendat least 5 feet from an edge of the table 150 and are used to aid thepatient in walking.

The parallel bars 152 differ from conventional parallel bars in that aproximal portion of the parallel bars 152 include a raised section 154which is higher than the rest of the parallel bars. The raised section154 is positioned to assist the patient to the standing position in amanner similar to the transfer bars 121 as described above. The raisedsection 154 is preferably at least 4 inches higher (and may be about 6.5inches higher) than the rest of the parallel bars and has a length of atleast 5 inches (and may be about 10.5 inches long). The raised section154 is useful to help the patient or therapist move the patient to thestanding position in the same manner that the transfer bars 121 may beused. For example, one of the parallel bars 152 may be engaged with thetable (similar to FIG. 5 which has one transfer bar 121 in the workingposition) so that the therapist or patient may use the parallel bar 152to help the patient to the standing position as shown in FIG. 13. Afterthe patient has been assisted to the standing position, the otherparallel bar 152 may be engaged. The parallel bars 152 include a movableleg 156 with a locking knob 158 so that the leg 156 may have theappropriate length to accommodate the particular table height.

Referring to FIG. 15, a knee block 157 may also be used to preventexcessive outward movement of the patient's knees as described above.The knee block 157 may be used in the same manner as the knee block 140and all uses are expressly incorporated here.

Referring still to FIG. 15, a patient support 159 may also be coupled tothe parallel bars 152 which may support the patient as necessary whilewalking and may even support the patient in a seated position ifnecessary. The patient support 159 may be removed and is preferablyslidably coupled to the parallel bars 152 to support the patient atvarying positions along the parallel bars 152. In this manner, anattendant may slide the support 159 to trail the patient to provideinstant support should the patient begin to fall backward or evenforward depending upon where the support 159 is positioned. To thisextent, two patient supports 159 may be provided which help prevent thepatient from falling forward or backward without departing from thescope of the invention.

Referring again to FIGS. 11-12, the table 150 may also include a movableseat 160 which pivots to aid the patient toward the standing position.The seat 160 is moved with any suitable mechanism such as thosedescribed above in connection with the seat back. To this end, ansuitable actuator (not shown) is used to move the seat 160 to thedesired angle. The movable seat 160, of course, still forms part of thetable top 151 and the mat 153 to support the patient in a lying and/orsitting position as necessary and as described herein. The movable seat160 preferably includes an edge 161 of the therapy table but may also bespaced somewhat from the edge 161 and may be no more than five inchesfrom the edge 161 of the table top 151. The movable seat 160 pivotsabout an axis 163 which is parallel to an axis 165 about which the seatback 123 pivots.

The table 150 may also include an indication of the various parametersso that the patient's progress may be tracked. The table 150 may alsoinclude a first indicator 162 that indicates an angle of the seat 160relative to the table top 151. The table may also include a secondindicator 163 which indicates an angle of the seat back 123 relative tothe table top 151. The table 150 also includes a third indicator 164which indicates a height of the table top 151.

The indicators 162, 163, 164 may be used to assess whether the patientis improving over time. The therapist may have prior information as tothe table height and seat angle that was used when moving the patientfrom a seated position to a standing position. The therapist may thenset the seat angle and/or the table height at lower settings todetermine whether the patient has improved. For example, the therapistmay set the table height to be lower than the table height in a priortherapy session to determine if the patient can still move to a standingposition from the lower table height. Similarly, the seat angle may bedecreased to determine whether the patient can move to a standingposition with the lower seat angle. In this manner, the table may beused to determine whether the patient is improving over time. Finally,the angle of the seat back may also be used to determine whether thepatient is improving by determining whether the patient can move to astanding position with a lesser seat back angle relative to a priorsession.

Referring to FIGS. 16-19, a table carrier 170 is shown which is used totransport the table 150 and may be used to transfer other types oftables as well. The carrier 170 includes a frame 172 which supports aplurality of wheels 175 177. The frame 172 forms a recess 174 whichreceives a lateral edge 175 of the table 150. The recess 174 is formedby an elongate upper member 176 which extends over the table 150 and alower member 178 which engages the underside of the table top 151. Thetable carrier 170 includes two recesses 174 but may include any numberincluding a single elongate recess 174. The carrier 170 also includes abase contact 180 which engages a base 182 of the table 150 whichcontacts and rests on the ground. Referring to FIG. 17, the base contact180 engages the base 182 of the table 150 when the lateral edge 175 ofthe table 150 is received in the recess 174. The table 150 is thenraised by lifting the table 150 from the rear until the carrier 170 andtable 150 are supported by the wheels 175 177. A pair of rubber feet 184stabilize the carrier 170 as the table 150 is raised as shown in FIG.18. Referring to FIG. 19, the table 150 is mounted to the carrier 170with the wheels 175 177 engaging the ground and table 150 prepared fortransportation. The table 150 is rotated to a substantiallyperpendicular position when in the transport position of FIG. 19.

By now, those of skill in this art will appreciate that the therapy mattable 10 of the present invention is amenable to many variations andmodifications in terms of the methods and materials of its constructionwithout departing from its spirit and scope. For example, most of theparts of the therapy mat table can be separately and inexpensivelyfabricated by, e.g., injection molding a strong, plastic, such as anacrylic or polyurethane, or the parts may be made from a metal such asaluminum or stainless steel. The table may include a myriad of molded-infunctional and decorative details and features. The parts can beassembled together quickly and simply with a minimum number of toolsusing well-known techniques, molded-in connection features, or the like.

In light of the foregoing, the scope of the present invention should notbe limited by that of the particular embodiments described andillustrated herein, as these are merely exemplary in nature. Rather, thescope of the present invention should be commensurate, with that of theclaims appended hereafter and their functional equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of handling a patient on a therapy mattable, comprising the steps of: providing a therapy table having a matbeing large enough to support a patient while the patient is layingdown, the therapy table also having a movable seat back, the seat backbeing movable from a stowed position to a working position, the seatback including a portion of the mat which supports the patient whilelaying down when in the stowed position, the seat back being positionedto support the patient while sitting on the therapy table when in theworking position, the therapy table also having the transfer bars beingmovable from a stowed position beneath the table to a working position,the transfer bars extending above the supporting mat when in the workingposition to assist in moving the patient on and off the table, thetherapy table also having a knee block, the knee block being positionedbetween the transfer bars when in a working position, wherein the kneeblock, transfer bars and a lateral edge of the table form an enclosurewhich encloses a patient; positioning a patient in a seated positionwith the patient's back supported by the seat back, the transfer barsbeing positioned on both sides of the patient when the patient is seatedon the therapy table; positioning the knee block between the transferbars; raising the table while the patient is seated to move the patienttoward the standing position, wherein the knee block limits outwardmovement of the patient's knees.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein: theproviding step is carried out with the therapy table having a foot stop,the foot stop being movable from a stowed position to a workingposition, the foot stop preventing backward movement of a patient's feetwhen the patient is standing between the transfer bars; the raising stepbeing carried out with the foot stop being in the working position.
 3. Atherapy table, comprising: a mat configured to support a patient in alying down position on the therapy table; a seat back configured to bemovable between a lowered seat back position and a raised seat backposition, the seat back comprising a portion of the mat when the seatback is in the lowered seat back position, and the seat back configuredto support a patient in a seated position on the therapy table when theseat back is the raised seat back position, a pair of transfer barsconfigured to be movable between a stowed position and a workingposition, the transfer bars configured to assist in moving a patient onand off the table when the seat back is in the raised position and thetransfer bars are in the working position, wherein at least a portion ofthe transfer bars extend above at least a portion of the mat when thetransfer bars are in the working position, and wherein the transfer barsare stored below the mat when the transfer bars are in their stowedposition; and a knee block configured to be positioned between thetransfer bars when the transfer bars are in the working position,wherein the knee block is configured to limit outward movement of apatient's knees when the table is raised to move the patient from aseated position to a standing position; wherein when the transfer barsare in the working position, and the knee block is positioned betweenthe transfer bars, the transfer bars and a lateral edge of the tableform an enclosure to accommodate a patient; wherein the mat includesfirst and second end portions that are not next to one another, andthird and fourth middle portions that are next to one another and arebetween the first and second end portions; wherein the third portion ofthe mat, which is the portion of the mat that provides the seat back, ispivotable between the lowered seat back position and the raised seatback position; wherein the fourth portion of the mat, which is next tothe third portion of the mat, provides a seat that is pivotable betweena lowered seat position and a raised seat position to aid a patient withmoving from a seated position to a standing position; and wherein anedge of the fourth portion of the mat, which provides the seat, israised above an edge of the third portion of the mat, which provides theseat back, when the third portion of the mat is in the raised seat backposition and the fourth portion of the mat is in the raised seatposition.
 4. The therapy table of claim 3, wherein an axis about whichthe fourth portion of the mat pivots, when the seat that is provided bythe fourth portion of the mat moves between the lowered seat positionand the raised seat position, extends between the first and second endportions of the mat.
 5. The therapy table of claim 3, wherein an axisabout which the third portion of the mat pivots, when the seat back thatis provided by the third portion of the mat moves between the loweredseat back position and the raised seat back position, extends betweenthe first and second end portions of the mat.
 6. The therapy table ofclaim 5, wherein: the first and second end portions of the mat remainsubstantially parallel to a floor or ground upon which the table issupported; and the third portion of the mat, which is the portion of themat that provides the seat back, is substantially coplanar with thefirst and second end portions of the mat when the third portion of themat is in the lowered seat back position, and is at a non-zero anglerelative the first and second end portions of the mat when the thirdportion of the mat is in the raised seat back position.
 7. The therapytable of claim 6, wherein the fourth portion of the mat, which is theportion of the mat that provides the seat, is substantially coplanarwith the first and second end portions of the mat when the fourthportion of the mat is in the lowered seat position, and is at a non-zeroangle relative the first and second end portions of the mat when thefourth portion of the mat is in the raised seat position.
 8. The therapytable of claim 7, wherein an axis about which the fourth portion of themat pivots is parallel to the axis about which the third portion of themat pivots.
 9. The therapy table of claim 3, further comprising: a seatback operator configured to be controlled to move the seat back betweenthe lowered seat position and the raised seat position, as well as atleast one intermediate position between the lowered position and theraised position.
 10. The therapy table of claim 9, wherein the seat backoperator comprises an electric motor, a hydraulic, or a combination anelectric and hydraulic motor.
 11. The therapy table of claim 3, whereinan entire upper portion of the table is configured to be controllablyraised and lowered relative to a floor or ground upon which the table issupported.
 12. The therapy table of claim 3, wherein while the transferbars are in the working position: each of the transfer bars includes alow bar portion and high bar portion that is higher than the low barportion relative to a floor or ground upon which the therapy table issupported; an entirety of the low bar portion of each of the transferbars extends over the mat; and at least a portion of the high barportion of each of the transfer bars extends beyond a lateral edge ofthe mat.
 13. A therapy table, comprising: a mat including first andsecond end portions that are not next to one another, and third andfourth middle portions that are next to one another and are between thefirst and second end portions; the third portion of the mat configuredto be pivotable between a lowered seat back position and a raised seatback position; the fourth portion of the mat configured to be pivotablebetween a lowered seat position and a raised seat position; the first,second, third and fourth portions of the mat configured to support apatient in a lying down position on the therapy table when the thirdportion of the mat is in the lowered seat back position and the fourthportion of the mat is in the lowered seat position; the third portion ofthe mat providing a seat back and configured to support a patient in aseated position on the therapy table when the third portion of the matis the raised seat back position; the fourth portion of the mat, whichis next to the third portion of the mat, configured to provide a seatfor a patient to sit on when the third portion of the mat is in theraised position and the patient is sitting on the fourth portion of themat with the patient's back resting against the third portion of themat; the fourth portion of the mat also configured to aid a patient withmoving from a seated position to a standing position when pivotedbetween the lowered seat position and the raised seat position; a pairof transfer bars configured to assist in moving a patient on and off thetable when a patient is sitting on the fourth portion of the mat and thethird portion of the mat is in the raised seat back position; a kneeblock configured to be positioned between the transfer bars and to limitoutward movement of a patient's knees when a patient is being moved froma seated position to a standing position; when the transfer bars are ina working position, and the knee block is positioned between thetransfer bars, the transfer bars and a lateral edge of the table form anenclosure to accommodate a patient the transfer bars, the knee block,and a lateral edge of the fourth portion of the mat forming an enclosureto accommodate a patient when the knee block is positioned between thetransfer bars; and an edge of the fourth portion of the mat, whichprovides the seat, is configured to be raised above an edge of the thirdportion of the mat, which provides the seat back, when the third portionof the mat is in the raised seat back position and the fourth portion ofthe mat is in the raised seat position.
 14. The therapy table of claim13, wherein: the first and second end portions of the mat remainsubstantially parallel to a floor or ground upon which the table issupported; and the third portion of the mat, which is the portion of themat that provides the seat back, is substantially coplanar with thefirst and second end portions of the mat when the third portion of themat is in the lowered seat back position, and is at a non-zero anglerelative the first and second end portions of the mat when the seat backis in the raised seat back position.
 15. The therapy table of claim 14,wherein the fourth portion of the mat, which is the portion of the matthat provides the seat, is substantially coplanar with the first andsecond end portions of the mat when the fourth portion of the mat is inthe lowered seat position, and is at a non-zero angle relative the firstand second end portions of the mat when the fourth portion of the mat isin the raised seat position.
 16. The therapy table of claim 13, wherein:the pair of transfer bars are configured to be movable between a stowedposition and the working position; the knee block is configured to bepositioned between the transfer bars when the transfer bars are in theworking position; wherein at least a portion of the transfer bars extendabove at least a portion of the mat when the transfer bars are in theworking position; wherein the transfer bars are stored below the matwhen the transfer bars are in the stowed position.
 17. The therapy tableof claim 16, wherein while the transfer bars are in the workingposition: each of the transfer bars includes a low bar portion and highbar portion that is higher than the low bar portion relative to a flooror ground upon which the therapy table is supported; at least a portionof the low bar portion of each of the transfer bars extends over themat; and at least a portion of the high bar portion of each of thetransfer bars extends beyond a lateral edge of the mat.
 18. The therapytable of claim 16, further comprising: a foot stop configured to bemovable from a stowed position to a working position, the foot stopconfigured to limit backward movement of a patient's feet when thepatient moves from a sitting position on the therapy table to a standingposition between the transfer bars.
 19. The therapy table of claim 13,further comprising: a pair of bars that are configured to be stowed in aportion of the table that is below the mat, and configured to beattached to a portion of the table such that the bars extend at leastfive feet from a portion of the table that supports the mat; wherein thebars are configured to aid a patient in walking after the patent hasmoved from a sitting position on the therapy table to a standingposition.
 20. The therapy table of claim 19, wherein each of the barsincludes a raised section that is at least four inches higher than arest of the bar and is positioned to assist a patient in moving from asitting position on the therapy table to a standing position between thepair of bars.